Method of making candles



NOV- 22, 1966 Q s ugs METHOD OF MAKING CANDLES Filed Sept. 5, 1964 INVENTOR CHARLES S. Jusrus AT OPNFVS United States Patent "'ice 3,287,484 METHOD OF MAKING CANDLES Charles S. Justus, Alamo, Calif. (494 Fensalir Ave., Pleasant Hill, Calif.) Filed Sept. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 394,296 4 Claims. (Cl. 264-245) This invention relates generally to the manufacture of candles, and is more particularly directed to a method of making highly aesthetic candles having patterns of colored wax infused in the body of the candle.

Candles which are entirely of a wax composition are typically of solid colors. Of course various extermely aesthetic affects may be obtained where the candles are not of a single solid color, but rather the candle body is of one color tinted in a predetermined pattern with one or more different colors. For example, a candle having a white body variegated with stripes, etc., of one or more different colors are quite appealing to the eye. Heretofore, candles of the foregoing variety have not been produceable, at least where the multi-colored candles are integrally of a wax composition.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide multi-colored candles which are integrally of a wax composition.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method of making multi-colored candles having a pattern of colored wax infused in a wax body of a different color.

Another object of the invention is to provide a candle of the class described wherein the colored pattern is predominately at the surface of the candle body.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide multi-colored variegated candles having bodies which are entirely of a wax composition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of making candles of the class described which is very simple and may be conducted at relatively low cost.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a cross sectional view of a candle mold of one type which may be employed in the candle making method of the invention, schematically illustrating an initial step of the method.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken at line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, illustrating particularly a subsequent step of the method.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the mold illustrating the later stages of the method.

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the mold in the condition depicted in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a candle in accordance with the invention.

Considering now the method of the invention in some detail with reference to the drawing, there is first provided a candle mold 11 for defining a void 12 in the desired shape of a candle which is to be manufactured. For example, the mold may define a square tapered void, as shown, to provide a very aesthetic candle configuration. The mold is of a disassembleable plural construction preferably including mold components 13, 14 which are arranged to be selectively clamped or otherwise held together in assembled relation, but which may be disassembled to facilitate release of a candle therefrom. The mold is also arranged to position a wick centrally thereof.

3,287,484 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 In the initial stages of the candle manufacturing method, the mold 11 is heated to a temperature of the order of -180 degrees F. Such heating of the mold may, for example, be accomplished by circulating hot water, as indicated by arrows 15, through jackets 16 provided in the mold, or by any other suitable conventional heating means.

As a very important step of the candle making method, colored wax is applied in a predetermined pattern to the interior face of the mold 11. In this regard, the mold components 13, 14 are in disassembled condition as depicted in FIGURE 1. Then, referring to FIGURE 2, the interior faces of the mold may be striped, as indicated at 17, with colored wax of one or more different colors. This is advantageously facilitated by providing the colored wax in the form of sticks or crayons (not shown). The crayons are used to draw the stripes upon the mold in any desired pattern, for example crossing a stripe of one color over a stripe of another color and back again. The tip of the crayon melts in its contact with the mold during the application of the stripes such that a goodly amount of the colored wax adheres to the mold in defining the stripes. In this regard, the previously noted mold temperature in a range of 160-180 degrees F. is greater than the melting point of the Wax crayons, and this is the primary governing factor as to the mold temperature. The crayons employed for the foregoing purpose may be of various wax and dye compositions; however, a mixture of beeswax, and Sudan dyes in high concentration, has proven particularly satisfactory in actual practice.

As one possible alternative to the application of colored wax to the surface of the mold by means of crayons, it should be noted that patterns may be printed upon the mold. For example, a stamp or the like may be provided having a raised surface in a predetermined pattern formed thereon. Colored wax is applied to the raised surface of the stamp, and the stamp is in turn applied to the surface of the mold to imprint the pattern thereon. In this manner, stained glass window effects, etc., may be obtained.

After the colored wax is applied to the mold surface in the desired predetermined pattern, the mold components 13, 14 are assembled and a Wick 18 is supported in the void 12, as by means of a rod 19 bridging the mold components at the upper end of the void, as indicated in FIGURE 3. The wick may of course be alternatively positioned in the mold at some prior time in the process and by other means. The void 12 of the mold is then filled with melted wax 20, as by pouring same from a container 21 into the open top of the mold. The melted wax 20 may have a variety of compositions, however a mixture of 1 part beeswax, 2 parts stearin, and 3 parts parafiin is particularly well suited to the purposes of the present invention. The temperature of the melted wax 20 upon its introduction to the mold is preferably substantially the same as the mold temperature, i.e., in a range of the order of 160-180 degrees F.

Subsequent to filling the mold void 12 with the melted wax 19, the mold is cooled, and this may be variously accomplished. For example, where the mold 11 is provided with the jackets 16, the hot water may be shut-off and drained from the jackets and cold water thereafter circulated therethrough as indicated by the arrows 22. A water temperature to maintain the mold in a range of 'about 35-70 degrees F. is particularly well suited to the cooling process. Cooling quickly builds up hardened wax at the surface of the mold and the cooling process continues from the exterior towards the middle of the wax mass.

When cooling is completed, the mold components 13,

14 are separated and the candle 23 is extracted therefrom. Thereafter, a reduced cylindrical portion 24 may be turned, or otherwise formed at the base of the candle to facilitate the ready mounting thereof in a holder, or the like. The candle 23 is integrally of a wax composition with the different color stripes 17, or other predetermined pattern infused in the surface of the candle body. Since the tinted surface pattern is integrally contained in the candle, the pattern will not rub or crack Off. It will be appreciated that the multi-color candle 23 presents an extremely aesthetic appearance.

What is claimed is:

I. A method of making candles comprising the steps of heating an interior surface of a candle defining mold to a predetermined temperature, applying colored wax having a melting point less than said predetermined temperature to said surface in a predetermined pattern, introducing melted wax of a different color to said mold to fill same and form a candle therein, cooling said surface of said mold, and removing said candle from said mold.

2. A method according to claim 1, further defined by said melted wax being at a temperature of about said predetermined temperature. I

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of applying colored wax comprises drawing stripes on said surfiace with crayons of different colored wax.

4. A method of making candles comprising the steps of heating interior surfaces of a disassembleable candle defining mold to a temperature in a range of about degrees F., applying a composition of beeswax and Sudan dye to said surfaces in a predetermined pattern with said mold in disassembled condition, positioning a wick in said mold, introducing a composition of 1 part beeswax, 2 parts stearin, and 3 parts paraflin in melted form to said mold in assembled condition to fill same and form a candle therein, cooling said surfaces of said mold to a temperature in a range of about 35-70 degrees F. and disassembling said mold and removing said candle therefrom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,122,451 7/ 1938 Cassimatis 264-245 2,250,958 7/ 1941 K-autter et a1. 264247 2,636,370 4/ 3 Kramer 6722.5 3,072,970 1/1963 Anderson 264-247 X FOREIGN PATENTS 396,070 7/ 1933 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Opacki: German application No. 1,091,266, pub. Oct. 20, 1960.

CHARLES J. MYHRE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF MAKING CANDLES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF HEATING AN INTERIOR SURFACE OF A CANDLE DEFINING MOLD TO A PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE, APPLYING COLORED WAX HAVING A MELTING POINT LESS THAN SAID PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE TO SAID SURFACE IN A PREDETERMINED PATTERN, INTRODUCING MELTED WAX OF A DIFFERENT COLOR TO SAID MOLD TO FILL SAME AND FORM A CANDLE THEREIN, COOLING SAID SURFACE OF SAID MOLD, AND REMOVING SAID CANDLE FROM SAID MOLD. 